Peer Leaders and Phone Prompts: Implications in the Practice of Breast Care among College Students

Background: Compliance with breast self-examination (BSE) guidelines helps detect breast cancer early while increasing physical activity decreases the risk of having breast cancer. Finding ways to early initiate and maintain such behavior among youth is therefore important. In this study we aimed to determine the effects of two health promotion education interventions on knowledge and attitude to breast care, as well as practice of BSE and physical activity by female college students. Materials and Methods: A total of 999 students from ten colleges underwent two kinds of health education strategies for three months, namely the traditional health education program (THEP) and tapping peer leaders using mobile phone prompts (PPHEP). Results: Improvement in knowledge and attitude was shown for both groups as compared to the control group. Both interventions equally increased the practice of BSE and maintenance of the recommended level of physical activity. Conclusion: There was an increase in the knowledge and positive attitude to breast care and practice of BSE with an improvement in the level of exercise when THEP and PPHEP interventions were used. Health education with peers using mobile phone prompts offers an alternative and effective way of promoting BSE and acceptable levels of exercise.

Globe positioning in the orbit among Filipinos scanned at the Philippine General Hospital from November 2009 to February 2010

OBJECTIVE: To determine normal Filipino values of globe positioning in the orbit using Computed Tomography. METHODS: 58 individuals were divided into age groups below 20 and 20 and above. CT images with constant settings were obtained. The distance between the lateral orbital rims (A), the shortest distance between line A and the corneal center (B), medial and lateral orbital rims (C),and the distance between line C and the corneal apex crossing the center of the lens (D) were measured, and the BIA and D/C ratios calculated. The mean, median, and range in millimeters were grouped in terms of age, sex,and laterality. RESULTS: Between the age groups, there was a significant difference in the average values of A, B,and C, but not the B/A and D/C ratios. Gender comparison for group 2 showed statistical difference in the average values of Band C,but not the A, D, BIA and D/C ratios. All the parameters in both groups showed no significant difference when the right and left eyes were compared. CONCLUSION: Age group comparison showed statistically significant difference in the average values of A, B,and C which may be attributable to growth changes. Gender comparison in group 2 showed significant difference in Band C. Males had a greater degree of protrusion than females. The right and left eye showed no significant difference in any of the measured parameters. Throughout the study, both BIA and D/C ratios showed no significant difference among gender and age suggesting that such ratios may be used as an index for setting normal globe positioning in the orbit.